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"Be the person your dog thinks you are." ~Unknown.We welcome comments. Supportive feedback is what we enjoy most, but tips for improvement are valued too. It’s not required that you agree with us, only that you express your opinion civilly. Comments are moderated and will be posted following review. Read more.

During the time our trainers answered calls at Call 12 recently, many of the behaviors we discussed with callers were the same common questions we help guardians address through our Behavior Helpline, which is a free service sponsored by Chem-Dry of Richmond. These behaviors can be—by our ridiculously strict human standards—fairly gross. Dogs in particular are the biggest offenders here. Whether it’s mounting your leg, rolling around on the remains of something rotten, or just casually eating some garbage, dogs tend to be free-spirited bohemians who have little time for our bourgeois notions of cleanliness and decorum. Judging from the number of calls we received about it, this devil-may-care attitude was most present in adult dogs with house-training issues. Many dogs seem to feel that relieving themselves on your favorite Oriental rug is perfectly acceptable, so long as you don’t see them do it. And that is the crux of the issue: they only do it when you’re not looking.

In the old-school, coercion or punishment-based, style of training, the “solution” to this problem is to punish the dog for eliminating indoors. The main benefit of this method is that it makes humans feel like they are in charge and doing something to “correct” the dog. The problem is that the dog often has no clue why he is being corrected. And scientifically speaking, this kind of punishment is not necessary, and can be counter-productive. Punishing your dog for eliminating in the house without first teaching him clearly where he SHOULD potty really just teaches him to fear you, and makes him desperate to find a more secluded and secret location in the house, such as the priceless Persian rug that not even your human children are allowed to walk on.

As we told the many callers who were dealing with this issue, the goal here is not to make your dog terrified of relieving him or herself indoors, but rather making the dog enthusiastic about eliminating outdoors. Practically, the goal is to set your dog up for success, rather than punishing any failures. Accidents should be prevented as much as possible, and your dog should make frequent trips outside to give her a chance to do the right thing. Whenever she does, act as excited as possible and bombard her with the best treats you can get. Your neighbors may form certain opinions of you once they see you jumping up and down with joy and vigorously praising a dog in the process of eliminating, but obviously being seen as the neighborhood weirdo is a small price to pay for having a happy, well-behaved dog.

Rewarding good behavior is the simple part. However, preventing the accidents is where it gets difficult. Here, I recommend two tools: a crate, and the umbilical method. Crating your dog while you’re away is absolutely the best way to have peace of mind that your dog is not practicing bad behavior while you’re away. For more information on crate training, see our behavior resources handout on this topic. The crate is all well and good for when you’re gone for a short time, but what about when you are at home? That’s where the umbilical method comes in. It is so called because you have your dog attached as with an umbilical cord, though in this case it’s simply a leash hooked through one of your belt loops. This way, your dog is always by your side, and can’t sneak off to do his business elsewhere. If given plenty of opportunities to go outside, and plenty of praise and treats when he relieves himself out there, your dog will soon learn that using the great outoors as a toilet is definitely the way to go. Once they realize that, you can “cut the cord.”

Housetraining for adult dogs may have been the most common call we received, but it was far from the only issue. We fielded calls about shy dogs, barky dogs, bitey cats and feline turf wars. In future posts, I will elaborate on these issues just as I did regarding housetraining here. If you just can’t wait that long, you can call our Behavior Helpline at 804-643-7722. Or, if like me you have crippling phone anxiety, you can also send your questions to behaviorhelpline@richmondspca.org. Before I finish, I’d like to offer a huge thank you to NBC12 for devoting such a large block of time to the cause of helping pets and guardians overcome behavior issues and stay together. If you’ve read this far, I’m sure you agree on the vital importance of these services which allow people to maintain that bond of love, trust and devotion they have with their animals. NBC12 has certainly shown us that they understand this cause, and we look forward to our next Call 12 segment in 2017.

Alan Lankford is a training and behavior specialist at the Richmond SPCA School for Dogs. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

August 04, 2016

The evening of July 27 Richmond SPCA animal behaviorists manned the Call 12 phone lines at NBC 12. In just an hour and a half, Chief of Education and Training Sarah Babcock and trainers Sandy Hausrath, Jessica Bristow, Jackie Laubacher and, yours truly, Alan Lankford took more than 50 calls to help the public address their pets’ behavioral issues. Here at the Richmond SPCA, we recognize that beloved family members are surrendered to shelters every day for completely manageable behavior issues, simply because their guardians lack the financial resources to pay for professional help. That’s why we offer free training advice through our Behavior Helpline, which is made possible by a sponsorship from Chem-Dry of Richmond. Like our other Project Safety Net programs, this service means that adopting a dog or cat in need is an option for everyone, not just the affluent, and regardless of where you acquired your pet, this service is available to help keep him or her in a good home.

Our stint on Call 12 was an opportunity for those who may not be aware of this service to take advantage of it, and boy did they! The phones were ringing off the hook from start to finish, but a few choice callers stand out. The first such caller was troubled with an African Gray parrot with an unfortunate penchant for biting people. Though none of the behaviorists present were initiated into the mysteries of avian psychology, another trainer who teaches at the Richmond SPCA has an African Gray and we were able to refer the caller to her, which hopefully saved a few poor souls some beak-shaped contusions. Our favorite call of the night, however, came from someone who wasn’t even asking for advice. He just wanted to thank us for the 16 wonderful years he had with the dog he adopted from us in our old location on Chamberlayne Avenue. Stories like these remind us of why we do what we do. As every animal lover knows, the bond between guardian and animal is invaluable, and everything we do at the Richmond SPCA is based on preserving and extending that bond.

Our focus is on giving guardians the knowledge and skills they need to help their pet overcome behaviors that are getting in the way of that bond. The story that introduced our time on Call 12 perfectly depicted the strong bond that has been nurtured between Sundae, a 2009 Richmond SPCA alumna, and her adopters Nancy Boylan and Scott Johnson. Soon after Sundae became part of their family, they sought help from our free Behavior Helpline.

The next year, Nancy took Sundae through the agility demonstration course at our Dog Jog and 5K Run and realized that the sport would be a great fit. They enrolled in a beginner agility class taught at our Robins-Starr Humane Center by Sarah Babcock. Today Sundae competes at the master level and has won numerous ribbons and titles, and she and Nancy continue to take agility classes at the Richmond SPCA.

Enjoy these videos of Sundae, Nancy and Scott, provided by NBC12 Multimedia Journalist Jennifer Warnick, and return to our blog next week for a discussion of the most commonly aggravating pet concern: house training adult dogs.

Alan Lankford is a training and behavior specialist at the Richmond SPCA School for Dogs. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

July 01, 2016

Many people associate the Fourth of July as a holiday to be spent outside with friends and family and it is natural to want to include our four-legged friends. However, we cannot forget that these festivities may cause more stress than enjoyment for our pets.

According to Chris Bane-Hayes, a front desk associate at the Richmond SPCA, “We have an overwhelming increase in calls about missing pets every year after the Fourth of July. Even if your dog has been to fireworks before, he may bolt because he is scared. It is heartbreaking because some families never find their pets again.”

Animals have an acute sense of hearing, and unlike people, pets do not associate the bright flashes and loud noises of fireworks with a celebration. The noises, bright lights and smells of fireworks often result in panicked pets escaping from their homes or yards. Across the country, the Fourth of July is the number one night for escaped pets to become stray animals that end up in animal shelters. Make sure that your pet feels safe and secure during this festive holiday with the following tips:

If you are heading out to a fireworks display, leave your pet at home.

Opt to keep them in a secure, protected room or basement. Play music or keep the TV on to muffle outside noises and cover windows and doors so pets won’t see the flashes of light.

Exercise your dog earlier in the day before festivities begin and bring them indoors well before evening displays are scheduled.

Take a current photo of your cats and dogs– just in case.

Distract your pet if he appears anxious or scared rather than attempting to “correct” his anxiety. Your confidence and comfort will help him more than punishing fearful behavior.

Cats will usually just run and hide, and it is usually best to just let them do that.

After the celebration, check your yard for firework debris before allowing pets outside to play or relax. Even if you did not set off fireworks in your own yard, debris may have found its way into your yard and can be dangerous to animals.

Angi Baber, the administrator of Lost & Found Dogs- Richmond, a Facebook page that helps to get lost pets back to their homes, emphasizes, “No matter what, having your pet microchipped is an important thing to do. In the event your pet does get lost, it can help make reunions happen faster.” However, a microchip is only as useful as the contact information maintained in the database. Be sure that your microchip company knows the best way to reach you and has been updated if you’ve moved or changed phone numbers since your pet was chipped. Guardians who have adopted from the Richmond SPCA should contact 24PetWatch to confirm accurate contact information.

With some proactive planning, you and your pet can have a happy and safe Independence Day!

Sarah Pavilack is spending the summer shadowing the Richmond SPCA communications department and is a rising senior at Virginia Tech. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

March 23, 2016

With only eight days remaining to take advantage of early bird registration fees for the area’s most beloved family- and pet-friendly event – our 14th Annual Dog Jog and 5K Run presented by Holiday Barn Pet Resorts – the time has come for you to sign up if you haven’t already!

You won’t want to miss all the fun we have in store for runners, walkers, cheering family members, pets and children! Join us Saturday, April 16 at our Robins-Starr Humane Center for a sanctioned 5K run administered by Richmond Road Runners, a leisurely 1-mile dog jog for you and your four-legged companion, an awesome vendor fair sponsored by Concours Auto Detailing featuring food trucks, music, inflatables and crafts for kids, activities for dogs, and sponsors and other vendors offering giveaways at their booths and more.

Online registration, sponsored by Massage Envy, is easy!Register simply and securely online. Early bird registration prices are only available for eight more days. Fees increase at Noon on March 31, so be sure to sign up soon. The first 1,000 people to register will receive an event T-shirt and a bag of goodies from our sponsors. We have included some highlights of what's to come in this year's event so you have lots to look forward to between now and April 16:

Fundraising When you register online for the Dog Jog and/or 5K Run, you can create a special fundraising page and solicit donations to support lifesaving programs and services of the Richmond SPCA. If you are unable to attend on April 16 or do not plan on participating in either event, our Cat Nap option is free and allows you to help the pets in our care through participant-led fundraising. Your personal fundraising page makes it easy to ask your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers to donate. By starting early, you can increase your your chances of winning spectacular prizes! We'll be awarding prizes to top team and individual fundraisers as well as top 5K finishers during the Invisible Fence Awards Ceremony around Noon on the day of the event.

Event detailsThe 5K Run is sanctioned and begins at 9:30 a.m. The course, sponsored by OrthoVirginia, is flat and is perfect for elite runners, as well as casual joggers and walkers. Fruit and bottled water, courtesy of Martin’s Food Markets, will await you at the finish. The 1-mile Dog Jog for dogs and their people begins at 11 a.m., and the course, sponsored by Rick Hendrick Chevrolet/Buick/GMC, features fun Instagram photo stops. Our Concours Auto Detailing Vendor Fair is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and features a Pet Wellness Tent sponsored by the Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Center, a Pets Fun Zone sponsored by Conquest Moncure & Dunn where your pet can try his or her paw at agility with one of our expert trainers, a Kids Fun Zone sponsored by Richmond Alarm Company where children can say hello to Waggles, complete crafts or slide down a giant inflatable, as well as a number of food trucks and music.

Free parking, courtesy of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, is available on the day of the event in the Green and Pink Lots located behind The Diamond on the corner of Hermitage Road and Robin Hood Road. If you are participating in either event, please allow yourself a few extra minutes to walk the short distance to our center.

The day promises to provide tons of fun for the whole family – those with two legs and four – so don't miss it. Register today and be a hero to homeless pets!

August 05, 2015

Our trainers at School for Dogs prepare written report cards for their students each day. These explain to their guardians what the dog has worked on that day, how they did on the lesson and how the guardian can continue building the skill at home. And when your trainer is Alan Lankford, you get the benefit of his clever and humorous writing skill along with your detailed report of how to shape a new behavior using positive reinforcement! This is a great guide to the mechanics of learning theory.

Alan provided this report card for Lola after working with her on a new skill:

This morning I had the rare privilege of working with Miss Lola. You might think that's because I had one fewer dog than usual, but it's actually because Lola is so beautiful that looking at her is like staring directly into the sun – it's just too intense for me to do with any regularity. Only Jessica, who has built up a tolerance by looking at the second most beautiful boxer, her Jackson, for years, is able to work with Lola every week.

Given that I would need some time to recover from Lola's sublime grandeur before working with her again, I wanted to do something simple enough for her to learn in one session, but practical enough for her to use every day. I decided upon "show me your profile." I'm more than certain that a dog as pretty as Lola is swamped with offers to model – especially now that she's lost some weight and has a snazzy new collar. It would be a great asset for her in auditions to be able to turn her head to the side and show her face in all its brachycephalic beauty.

To teach this, I first waited for Lola to turn her head even slightly to her left (it's hard to choose, but I'd say her right side is her best side). By doing this, I was "shaping" the behavior instead of luring it: I didn't give Lola any guidance, just selectively reinforced closer and closer approximations of what I was looking for, out of the behaviors Lola offered on her own. I think Lola enjoyed calling the shots (but I'm sure you knew that already). The first time was the hardest, because turning to the left also meant turning away from treats. She stared straight at them for a minute or so, accumulating drool, until finally giving up and looking to Jessica in desperation, hoping Jessica would save her from the mean man who wasn't giving her any treats. Fortunately for Lola, Jessica was to her left so she got a click and a treat. It took her maybe forty seconds the next time, and less and less each time after that. Yep, Lola picked up the point of the exercise pretty quickly – brains AND beauty – and soon I was just focusing on getting her to turn her head in just the right way, so as to best accentuate her features.

Once I had that, I added the verbal cue ("show me your profile"). Once she was responding to that, she had some sits and downs thrown in there, to make sure she was listening for the cue and not just repeating the same behavior. After a little bit of that, she really had it down. Eventually, Jessica had to drag me away before I burned my eyes out gazing upon Lola's resplendent visage, but not before Lola cemented a new move into her repertoire.

To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

Why do dogs bite? Is it because they are mean? Absolutely not! Dogs get irritated just as easily as people. I may raise my voice at someone because I’m having a bad day, but that doesn’t mean that I am generally a mean person. Here are some common reasons why a dog might bite:

The dog is protecting something; this could be food, a toy, or even their space.

The dog has been startled or frightened by something.

The dog is having a bad day and has no patience for people, especially a small child.

The dog might be sick or injured.

You or your child are playing with the dog and it gets overly excited.

The dog might be a herding breed and is simply doing a job, herding you or your child by nipping at your heels.

Remember when 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. used to be “Happy Hour” (pre-children)? This is now the most hectic time of a day in a typical household with children. Parents are tired, children are fighting or fussy, someone is trying to make dinner, the kids are chasing each other around the house, etc. Even if you don’t have children yet, this can be a time of day when you come home from work and perhaps have a headache or you are in a grumpy mood. This is a hectic time of day for anyone in the family…including the family dog!

I always tell children (and any adults that are present) that dogs have good days and bad days, just like us. The only difference is that dogs cannot use words to tell us when they need to be left alone. This is why their body language is so important.

There is a lot of information available to us regarding dog body language and behavior. You can start by watching one of our favorite videos:

This video is intended to first be watched by the adult and then watched by the adult and child together. Just remember: loose and relaxed is good; tense and stiff means you should give your dog some space. Dogs truly aren’t that different from us! We can easily read a person’s body language to tell if they are feeling good or if they are feeling stressed; apply this knowledge to a dog and you most likely will be able to determine how your dog is feeling.

Interested in more information? Attend one of our free dog body language and behavior sessions with your family (children included!) taught by Sarah Babcock, Chief of Education and Training at the Richmond SPCA on Wednesday, June 10 at 11 a.m. or 6 p.m.

With all of the information available to us on a regular basis regarding dog bite safety and dog body language, how do we then take this information and teach it to children?

Simplify it! While there is a lot of information, we can easily break it down in a way that can be easily understood by children. For example, we know that when dogs growl they are warning you that your behavior is making them uncomfortable. To explain this to a child, you could say that a growl is a “no!” or a “leave me alone!” Your child might be too young to understand exactly how to read a dog’s body language, but if you simplify the warning signs and teach those to your child then you will likely decrease the likelihood of biting.

Make it relatable! I have never met a child who is completely happy when another child takes a toy away in mid-play. This scenario typically ends in tears and yelling. Use this situation to explain to children why they should never take a toy away from a dog!

I frequently use this method when speaking to preschool and elementary aged children about the importance of asking the guardian before petting a dog that they don’t know. One of my “go to” questions is “How would you feel if you were walking down the street with your mom and a random stranger walked up to you and put her hand on your head?” Since we typically teach children that they shouldn’t interact with strangers they almost always answer negatively, explaining that they would be scared. I ask them to tell me what they would do if this happened to them. Many of the kids say that they would yell, run away, call for help, tell the person to stop touching them, etc. These are great answers! I then follow up with this: “How do you think dogs feel when strangers walk up to them and starts to pet them without asking?” Now they are relating it to their own feelings – they will usually say that the dog might be scared, too. Then I ask: “How do dogs ask for help if they can’t use words? How do they tell you to go away if they can’t talk?” They will explain that dogs will growl, try to walk away, show their teeth, and maybe even bite.

The big question then becomes: “So, if you are a stranger and you walk up to pet a dog without asking first and the dog gets scared and tries to bite you, whose fault is it?” I would say 90 percent of the time you can actually see the facts clicking as the kids think about the answer to this. Almost always the kids will say that it is their own fault. This is the “Ah ha!” moment that I love to see.

Use fun pictures and posters! Sometimes pictures really are worth a thousand words. There are so many fun infographics available for download (and for free!) on the internet. Many of these are geared toward children and use images and a small amount of text to explain how we should behave around pets. I have included a few of my favorites into this blog post, but there are others out there! Find a few that your kids might like, print them out, read over them with your kids, and then hang them up where they will be seen on a regular basis! There are also some really great videos available that will help teach kids about how to behave around pets.

Please click the thumbnail to visit the websites where each poster is available to download.

Practice makes perfect! Encourage your child to practice appropriate behavior around dogs both around the house and out in public. If you are walking down the street and you see neighbors walking their dog, take your child over and have him ask the guardians if he may pet their dog. If the answer is yes, then remind your child of the rules for petting a new dog (let the dog come up to you, hold your hand out flat for a sniff, and pet the dog slowly under the chin) and let them pet. If the answer is no then use this as a new learning opportunity! Ask the dog’s guardian to explain to your child why he can’t pet their dog. Most dog owners will be more than happy to help you teach your child about meeting new dogs.

Set the example! Let’s face it – even adults make mistakes when it comes to practicing good behavior around dogs. Make sure that you are setting a positive example for your kids (or the kids around you). Fight the urge to just reach out and pet that adorable puppy – ask the guardian first!

Kari Hosack is the manager of humane education for the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

February 27, 2014

I am very excited that a newborn human will be coming to live with us soon, but the other dogs and I have some questions and concerns. Up until this announcement, we have been honing our adult companionship skills. However, I am getting the feeling that the skills to be a newborn human’s companion are a little different. I have also been talking to other dogs with newborn experience and I am getting some mixed advice. Is playing tug with babies ok? What about sitting on them? Is it my job to protect them from the evil vacuum cleaner? Every dog seems to have an opinion. Then Fido at the park said that babies make scary noises at random points throughout the day. It’s all a little overwhelming and I could use help learning how to be a great newborn companion. Luckily, there is now a baby class designed specifically for experienced adult companion dogs like me who are looking to expand their companionship skills to include newborns. Nursery School for Dogs will help prepare me for the sounds that babies make and give me the opportunity to learn and practice my new baby friendly behaviors in a fun, supportive environment. Can we sign up? Can we? Can we? Please. Please. Please.

Love,

Greta and Penny

P.S. If you no longer have a baby at home and have a baby carrier, sling, bouncer, car seat, swing or a changing table you no longer have use for, our friends at the Richmond SPCA need these items for the Nursery School for Dogs class! If you are able to donate any of these items to be used in this class, it will help other expecting or new parents and their pups and will help the transition be much easier!

Lauren Almond is a behavior and training specialist at the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires both your first and last name to be used as your screen name.

December 19, 2013

There may be a versatile holiday gift you haven’t considered for that special pet or pet lover. This year, try a gift card from the Lora Robins Gift Shop. Not only can you use the gift card toward the purchase of any retail items in the gift shop, a gift card can also be applied to services and special events at the Robins-Starr Humane Center, including birthday parties and training classes!

If there is a child in your life that has an upcoming birthday, the gift of a celebration hosted at the Richmond SPCA might be the perfect holiday gift. With games, decorations, favors and even a special appearance by an adorable dog, gifting a birthday party to a child is sure to please.

While you're checking off the pet-lovers on your holiday shopping list, consider giving the gift of training! Gift cards purchased can be used for training classes at the Richmond SPCA. From Canine Manners to Agility to Nose Work, there is something for everyone. Our Family Fun with Fido class is focused on getting the entire family involved with training.

P.S. If there's a youngster in your life whose birthday is in the first quarter of 2014, now's the time to get that party scheduled! We have a handy new form on our website so you can send all the important party details directly to our humane education coordinator.

Caroline Radom is the manager of communications for the Richmond SPCA.To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

November 21, 2013

When you set out on a walk with your four-legged companion, there are many choices available for walking equipment, just as there are many dog-training philosophies. At the Richmond SPCA, we deliver reward-based training that is based on the science of learning theory. If your goal is a happy dog who walks well with you on leash, and you’ve tried a prong collar (aka pinch collar) or choke chain to make your dog comply, we would like to encourage you to give a Martingale collar, Gentle Leader, Easy Walk or Sensible No-Pull brand harnesses a try. Visit our Lora Robins Gift Shop from today until Nov. 29, and trade in your prong or choke collar for a 40 percent discount on PetSafe or Softouch Concepts brand walking equipment including collars, Gentle Leaders and harnesses.

Jackie, a behavior training specialist at the Richmond SPCA, walks Jinks with a Gentle Leader.

Prong collars, also known as pinch collars, are metal collars that have a series of fang-shaped metal links with blunt points. If sitting high on the neck, properly fitted, behind the ears, in theory it will distribute the pressure evenly along the dog’s neck to not cause any pressure points or damage to a dog’s trachea. Rather than receiving correction verbally from a guardian when not in the correct position, the pressure points from the prong collar are designed to deliver correction, communicating to the dog which behaviors are undesirable to the guardian. However, if the pet guardian is not trained to use the prong collar correctly and hasn’t had the collar properly fitted to the dog, it is not effective as a training tool and can instead cause walks to become uncomfortable or painful exercises for the dog.

One of the arguments some trainers make in favor of using prong collars is that the pinching the dog experiences mimics the correction that one dog would give another through mouthing behavior. However, dogs are capable of distinguishing that the pinching or discomfort coming from the collar isn’t from another canine. Instead, the dog may form a negative association to what they are experiencing at that time, whether it be walking, interacting with other dogs or a variety of other things. This negative association, over time, can create aggression towards or fear of other dogs, strangers or children.

Unlike properly-fitted prong collars, which will only tighten until they are snug around a dog’s neck, choke collars or slip leads continue to tighten indefinitely, which can cause extreme discomfort to a dog, cutting off his or her ability to breathe and potentially causing tracheal injuries. While a dog’s behavior may be momentarily inhibited by using tools like prong collars or choke collars, their effectiveness for even that tends to wear off over time, and the pet guardian ends up pulling harder and harder to get the dog’s attention or compliance. Furthermore, simply “correcting” unwanted behavior is never the right solution, as the dog can easily become confused if he does not know what behavior he should be doing in a given situation.

Magoo shows off the correct fit of a harness.

Fortunately, walking equipment for dogs has come a long way in the past decade! Martingale (limited-slip) collars, front-clip harnesses and head halters can help you modify your dog’s behavior and do so without causing pain or risk of injury. This means that walking can be a pleasant and safe experience for both humans and canines. If you are working with your dog to improve his or her behavior on leashed walks, a front-clip harness can be a wonderful and easy-to-use training tool that helps prevent pulling on leash almost immediately. Is your dog a pro at slipping out of a collar? When properly fitted, martingale collars are designed to prevent escape without the “choking” effects of a choke collar. Head halters (Gentle Leader, Halti, etc) provide maximum control and can help redirect your dog’s head and regain his or her focus on you in almost every situation.

It is important to remember that each training tool can only be successful when used correctly and properly fitted to your dog, but we are committed to help with that piece of the puzzle, so please ask us for help if you need it. Fortunately, the manufacturers of these products provide a great set of instructions, and our helpful staff in the Lora Robins Gift Shop are glad to help you with a fitting. Following all fitting and use guidelines is very important, so that each tool can be effective as possible. Consistent training using positive reinforcement will help strengthen the bond between you and your pet and create positive experiences for you both.

We encourage pet guardians using prong collars or choke collars to consider switching to a martingale collar, front-clip harness or head halter. When you visit our Lora Robins Gift Shop starting today through Nov. 29 and trade in your prong or choke collar, you will receive 40 percent off PetSafe brand collars, front clip harnesses and Gentle Leader head halters as well as Sensible No-Pull Harnesses by Softouch Concepts.

Caroline Radom is the manager of communications for the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name

October 09, 2013

What a great celebration of people’s love for animals we had on Saturday evening at the Jefferson for our fifteenth annual Fur Ball! It was truly the biggest and the best one ever. Because number fifteen deserved to be an even more special occasion than our Fur Balls usually are, we did some new fun things and had some special surprises in store for the guests. The evening’s Cinderella theme was apropos of the magical nature of the evening. Of course, the Fur Ball is our sole source of funding for the Cinderella Fund which is what we tap to pay for veterinary care and rehabilitation for the thousands of sick and injured homeless animals who come in to our loving care each year. Without the Fur Ball, we would never be able to save their lives. So, the fun has a very serious purpose. And, I am so deeply grateful to the title sponsor BB&T who made this lifesaving event possible for us.

Pat Manning, Robin Starr and Martha Dula

First, while the guests were having cocktails in the gorgeous Rotunda of the Jefferson, we honored Pat Manning’s remarkable leadership of this event for the past seven years. Then, everyone watched the most delightful display of doggie couture ever seen in the Pet Parade. There was a lot of mariboo, tutus and pearls and even a pair of dogs in elaborate ruffled Scottish plaid outfits that were worthy of Alexander McQueen. The silent auction during cocktails had fabulous packages on it this year and earned the largest amount it has ever done for the care of our sick and injured animals. The pets who came as guests had great fun and received superb care all evening from our volunteers and staff members who served as Pet Escorts.

After we moved up to the ballroom, it was my great pleasure to present the Ellen Glasgow Award to MARTIN's Food Markets which is one of our most devoted and generous corporate donors, giving us all of the food, litter and treats the animals in our care need. The award was accepted by Jim Scanlon, the Regional Vice President of Martin’s and a dedicated member of our Board. He spoke inspiringly of Martin’s belief in the Richmond SPCA and our mission and even took the occasion to announce an additional gift of support that they will make to our fund to buy a much needed new van.
A delicious dinner followed, and the remarkable piece de resistance of the meal was a dessert that looked like a beautiful Cinderella slipper made of white chocolate filled with delicious chocolate truffles. It was a true work of art by Jefferson pastry chef Sara Ayyash and I ate every single delectable bite of mine.

After dessert, we showed a video that reflected the remarkable film making talents of our staff member Louis Handler. It was a Richmond SPCA Cinderella Story. It told the story of a little homeless dog (portrayed by our own alumnus Hoover) who received the veterinary care she needed thanks to the Cinderella Fund and then went to an adoption event where she attended a fantasy ball and met her perfect adopter there. They went off together in a gorgeous carriage and then arrived at the Fur Ball. It was absolutely adorable and made everyone in the audience laugh. You should take a look at it on YouTube. After the video ended, Emerson and Bekkah Hughes sang the gorgeous Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella song “Ten Minutes Ago” to the piano accompaniment of Kathy Hughes. Their voices were stunningly beautiful. The Fur Ball guests were thrilled and delighted by the video and the singing and even more so when we presented Hoover live and in person. Everyone laughed when I confessed to them that Hoover, who is now much loved in his forever home with one of our volunteers, is actually a "Cinderfella." Hoover was the perfect choice for the role, despite the differing gender, because he really did come to us very sick and in need of Cinderella Fund care and now is healthy and very happy.

Auctioneer Mark Motley, emcee Greg McQuade and Bartholomew Broadbent present the South African Wine Tour package on the live auction.

The live auction then began and it was a huge success with the most exciting and amazing auction packages we have ever had. There was a trip through the wineries of South Africa with our Board member, the renowned wine expert Bartholomew Broadbent, and a trip to a cottage in the Cotswolds and then to London. There was a gorgeous diamond ring and a wonderful bathroom renovation package. And, the most fun was to see our new adorable mascot for 2013-14 be anointed. Her name is Isabella and she is the companion of our Board member Jack Nelson and Katherine Gomez. She is a sweet and very easy going girl and will be a delight to have as our mascot as was the darling Rosie Hogge last year. The last part of the auction was the Angel Pledges when our wonderful and dedicated Fur Ball attendees pledged generous contributions to save animals' lives.

Isabelle with guardians Katherine Gomez and Jack Nelson

The fifteenth annual Fur Ball was a huge success for us. While we are still counting, it is clear that the event significantly exceeded our monetary goal for the evening. It also gave our very best friends and supporters a magical evening that they will long remember with their beloved pets. There is nothing more rewarding for us than to know that we will have the resources for the coming year to provide the veterinary care and rehabilitation that thousands of wonderful homeless animals will need. I am so very grateful to the Fur Ball guests whose generosity will make that possible and to our wonderful Fur Ball Chair Pat Manning without whom none of this would have happened.

Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires both your first and last name to be used as your screen name.